Source: Supplied.

Defending Australian Superbike champion Josh Waters is eyeing victory in the Superstock category at next month’s Suzuka 8 Hours in Japan, marking his eighth campaign in the prestigious Endurance World Championship (EWC) event.

In what will be his third attempt with the MotoMap Supply Suzuki team, Waters revealed the outfit will be transitioning to the Superstock category despite a top 10 ranking in the overall standings during the 2017 edition.

“The team has taken a different route this year,” Waters told CycleOnline.com.au. “With the Japanese entering factory teams, the level of the bikes is so high, so it’s very difficult if you don’t have a very high-spec bike as well.

“The team has a different idea and Suzuki wants to do something different too, so they’ve entered in the Superstock class, which will basically be like riding the bike I’m on in Australia – I hope to win that.”

The Australian number one, who will be joined by Nobuatsu Aoki and Yosihiro Konno, said that although the event is highly demanding, he’s always excited to head back year after year.

“This is my eighth year racing the Suzuki 8 Hours,” he continued. “It’s an event where when you finish, you’re like I don’t want to do that again because it’s so hot and physically demanding, but then you have a couple of months off and you just can’t wait for it come around again.”

The Suzuka 8 Hours is scheduled to be staged on 29 July, where Australian Endurance World Championship regulars Broc Parkes (YART Yamaha Official EWC Team) and Josh Hook (F.C.C. TSR Honda) will be in attendance.